Gorgeous Country, Substandard Program June 03, 2023
By A student (Homeland Security, San Diego State University) - abroad from 05/22/2023 to 05/30/2023 with
The GREEN Program: Iceland - Sustainability and Renewable Energy Abroad
I ws grateful to have witnessed Iceland’s impressive beauty. However, The trip was simply not worthwhile in the financial sense.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
The food and lodging was downright ridiculous, an affront to the students. I had to spend a lot of money on top of the $4500 to make up for these dreadful accommodations. Additionally, a trip itinerary was not provided to us in advance of the trip. Instead, our guides would tell us what we would do the next day during dinner each evening. They claimed that this was for our benefit, but frankly this reeked of a lack of preparation and transparency. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent hundreds of dollars on lodging and food because the lodging and food we received were completely subpar. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Yes, save your money by not participating in this program. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I now know that vacationing to Iceland is worthwhile, but going there via The Green Program is a mistake. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
